America's biggest patriot unmasked: Ultra-secretive billionaire who gave US military $130million lifeline is revealed
By Sophie Gable
Daily Mail
Oct 25, 2025
Timothy Mellon, a member of one of America's richest families, has been revealed as the mystery tycoon who donated $130 million to the US government for military salaries
The elusive billionaire donor who gave $130 million to to help pay US military salaries during the government shutdown has been unmasked as oil tycoon heir Timothy Mellon.
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a 'friend' donated as an act of patriotism for the military and his country.
'He called us the other day and said, "I'd like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I'd like to contribute personally, because I love the military and I love the country,"' the president said.
Trump called the mystery donor 'a great American citizen' and a 'substantial man,' adding that he didn't want any publicity.
'He prefer that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned,' Trump said.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell later confirmed in a statement that the Department of War received the massive payment on Thursday to pay for service members' salaries.
Mystery grew over who made the anonymous donation until the New York Times revealed the billionaire's identity on Saturday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Mellon, 83, has stayed out of the spotlight but is a member of one of America's wealthiest families.
Mellon (pictured here in 1981) is a member of a long line of powerful Americans and recently became a major political donor to Trump
Mellon was revealed by the New York Times as the mystery donor who donated funds to pay the military during the government shutdown
Forbes lists the Mellons' family fortune at $14.1 billion and named them one of the country's richest dynasties in February.
The outlet estimated that Mellon's individual net worth was around $1 billion which he denied, telling the publication that he 'never have been, never will be,' a billionaire.
Mellon is the descendant of Thomas Mellon, an Irish immigrant who came to America in 1818 and became a real estate and banking tycoon.
His grandfather, Andrew, became a venture capitalist in the 20th century and was an early investor in companies that became Alcoa and Gulf Oil.
Mellon has typically steered clear of political donations but has been an avid supporter of Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
His recent donation to the military has raised questions about whether it can be distributed as he intended.
Congress typically has to approve how the budget is allocated, including funds for military service members.
Donations exceeding $10,000 must undergo an ethics review, according to Defense Department regulations.
The donation also potentially violates the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from using funds in advance or in excess and accepting voluntary services.
The Pentagon has argued that the government can accept the money under the general gift acceptance authority.
The Department of Defense's standards of conduct generally state that any monetary gift shouldn't be accepted from an outside source.
However, the standards do note that there are many exceptions to the gift standard.
The New York Times estimated that if the money were used to cover the military's salaries, each service member would receive only about $100.
Mellon has kept a low political profile but has become a top donor to Trump, pouring about $165 million into his last presidential campaign, according to the nonprofit research group Open Secrets.
He significantly increased his political contribution spending in 2024, after donating only $41.7 million to campaigns in 2022.
Mellon has stayed quiet on his political beliefs, but has supported Trump and RFK Jr's campaigns by donating millions
Thomas Mellon (pictured) accumulated a mass fortune as a venture capitalist and early investor in oil companies
Andrew Mellon (pictured) inherited his father's fortune before becoming the Secretary of Treasury
Mellon donated $60.1 million in 2020, $10.1 million in 2018, and less than $1 million in prior years.
His recent political donations include a $50 million cash infusion to the super PAC (political action committee) Make America Great Again Inc.
Mellon is also a supporter of RFK Jr and donated millions to his presidential campaign and his group, Children's Health Defense.
However, in a rare interview with Bloomberg in 2020, Mellon revealed that he gave a small donation to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 campaign.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment on the New York Times' reporting.
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